What Can I Do?
Plan Ahead: Combine several errands into one trip or run errands on the way home from work. Run groups of errands in the evening hours, since the impact of emissions is worse during hotter hours.
Get Children on Board: Encourage children to ride the school bus or organize a "school pool" a carpool with other parents. Share after-school driving and take turns driving children to sports practice, swim lessons, music lessons, etc.
Use Technology: Use the phone and the Internet to locate or purchase products and services, instead of driving from store to store. You could be surprised by how much gas you'll save.
Make a Smart Vehicle Choice: Find and compare gas mileage and air pollution ratings for new and used cars and trucks. Consider a hybrid for your next purchase.
Maintain Your Vehicle: Keep your car serviced, tires inflated and replace your air filters regularly. Keeping your car serviced can increase your gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent, while a new air filter can improve it by up to 10 percent. Get your car checked for emissions via our Free Emissions Testing.
Adjust Your Driving Habits: By slowing down and not making quick starts or stops you increase your fuel efficiency which increases your gas milage.
Walk or Roll: In the U.S., more than 25 percent of the auto trips taken are less than a mile in length. (U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration) If possible, walk, bike, jog or rollerblade when running errands and enjoy the bonus exercise.
Don't Idle: Remember to turn off your car instead of idling for long periods. Extended idling causes greater wear and tear on your car, wastes fuel and add pollutants to the air. Walk inside instead of idling in the drive-thru lane.
Refuel After 6 p.m.: Fill up your gas tank, including lawnmowers and other gas canisters, in the evening rather than the morning. Evaporative emissions from morning gasoline fill-ups contribute to air pollution, particularly during the summertime. Don't refuel on air quality alert days.
Check Your Gas Cap: Leaking gas caps contribute to air pollution and waste fuel due to evaporation. Every leaking gas cap equals approximately 200 pounds of evaporative emissions each year. Up to 30 gallons of gasoline can be released annually — that's a lot of money wasted.
Compost Your Way to a Better Tomorrow: Avoid burning leaves, trash and other materials that can add particle pollution to the air. Compost yard waste and turn something you once threw away into nutrient-rich top soil.
